Cats usually make their owners very happy. However, you should keep in mind that being a cat owner takes a lot of effort. There are many responsibilities that every cat owner needs to be aware of. Read here about which responsibilities you will be taking on. Continue reading to learn some excellent approaches to caring for your feline friends.
Local rescue organizations are a great place to look for a new pet cat. Shelters all over the country are crowded with marvelous cats, and most provide veterinarian care with the adoption fee. Adopting your cat through a shelter means you are helping to control the cat population and saving a life at the same time.
If your cat is female, it is very important that she be spayed when the vet feels she is old enough. If an indoor cat gets out, you may soon have kittens. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.
Microchips are an increasingly popular form of pet protection. You never know when your cat could get away from you. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. Microchips are extremely small, but they can hold all the same information as an identification tag. These days, pretty much all shelters and vet offices have scanners that can read these chips, and because they’re beneath your pet’s skin, they won’t ever get lost.
Never let a cat become bored. It is necessary for them to play and get exercise. Sadly, this is overlooked by many cat owners. Bored cats can really be a problem. They can have health issues, OCD, and even depression. Make sure you give them lots of toys and room to play. If they are indoors, give them a scratching post or something to climb on.
Cats are great family pets, but small children might be too rough. Teach your kids how to treat a cat. Demonstrate the appropriate way to pick the cat up and how to play with them. Because cats are more delicate than dogs, they need to be handled more carefully.
Try figuring out why the cat is purring. Once you become familiar with your cat and its needs, it will become easier to determine what he needs when he meows. It could be she’s hungry or needs to go outside. Look for the cues and you’ll be much more in tune with your pet.
Cats feel safest in an elevated location. Make sure your cat has a safe place to play. If you don’t wish to have a big cat tree inside your house, try a sturdy shelf made of breakables. Put a blanket on it so they can rest peacefully.
Vary your cat’s diet just a tiny bit to keep them from being picky. Cats who eat the same food day after day either grow tired of it, or it becomes the only food that they will eat.
Scratching Post
If the cats scratching post is looking tired and worn out, never throw it away. Cats tend to enjoy a scratching toy more after they’ve gotten comfortable with it and made it their own. Your cat might not want to use the new scratching post and start ruining your furniture instead.
As you read, having a pet cat can be very beneficial. Of course, the only way to experience this is to provide everything your cat needs to be healthy and happy. Using the information provided here will be a big step in making your cat a happy addition to your life.